There was no independence referendum in Catalonia today – Spain PM

After polling stations closed in Sunday’s controversial referendum on Catalonia independence, Spain’s Prime Minister has announced “no referendum” happened in the country.

“No referendum has been held in Catalonia today,” Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has announced at a press conference Sunday evening.

Claiming that the majority of people in Catalonia did not want to participate in the voting, the minister said those citizens had obeyed the law.

He also defended actions of Spanish law enforcement, saying police have “performed their duty” in Catalonia. Catalan authorities have earlier announced more than 760 people were injured in Spanish police crackdown on voters in the referendum deemed illegal by Madrid.